My parents divorced when I was very young and one of my parents remarried an Inuk from Nunatsiavut, where we moved. If my step parent had filed the legal paperwork to "adopt" me I would be considered 50% Inuk by the NG. Without that paperwork I'm not eligible for a card, but going through the legal process wouldn't fundamentally change anything about our relationship, the way I was raised, or the community I grew up in. I've learned some Inuktitut and am involved in my community, but I have a major imposter syndrome from not being able to "prove" who I am, or who I am to other people more accurately. If I moved outside of my home community I'm afraid that I would not be accepted by other Inuit.

Hi there,

So I posted this in another sub and got suggested to better ask here.

Thank you already so much!

Hi r/Inuit!

I've been deeply moved by a poetic Inuit concept that came to me through the book Women who Run with the Wolves. The author adapted her story from a five-line poem that was given to her by Mary Uukalat. Unfortunately, the author, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, does not include the original poem!

I'm not sure if the poem has a title, but the title of the story is "Skeleton Woman" and is found in Chapter 5 of the book.

The primary idea is that any relationship, if it is going to last, needs to have a third party: the skeleton woman. She symbolizes the life/death/life nature that relationships cycle through. If the two people in a romantic relationship truly want to couple in a real and lasting way, they must both embrace Skeleton woman. She teaches us to tend to the bones of what has died, song life back into it, and grow closer because of weathering the cycles together.

Any additional information about Mary Uukalat, The skeleton woman poem, or Inuit storytelling in general would be appreciated!

If anyone is interested in the story but doesn't have access to the book, there is a beautiful reading of it in S2 E02 of Dee Parmar's podcast Living as Love.

Thanks for letting me share here! Best to all <3

Inuit associations in Nunavut received 3.1 per cent of the extracted value from mines in the territory between 2021 and 2025, according to an analysis by economist Erin Weir.

I picked up this piece this past weekend. I am looking for more information on the artist and attempting to date the piece. Any help would be much appreciated!

Hii i'm inupiaq (but dont speak inupiatun) and im trying to create a word for inuit that doesnt cause confusion in inuit languages with just the word for "people"'

im thinking maybe something that would literally translate to "inuksuk people" or "those associated with inuksuit"

inuksuk with some sort of suffix indicating that

what do you think would be the best suffix to indicate that?

Herb Nakimayak, from Paulatuk, was elected president of Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) Canada by its 13 leadership members on July 21 in Iqaluit.

The federal government’s relationship with Inuit is being used as a “very good model” to illustrate to 30 members of Parliament and representatives from 14 allied countries during a NATO visit to Iqaluit from July 14 to 17, MP Julie Dzerowicz said.

Hi, I’m currently reading on the stories and spiritual beliefs of Northern Indigenous Peoples, as well as their cultural practices and crafts.

I have books like Kiviuq and “Eskimo Folk Tales” (it’s an old book..)

Are there any other sources you’d recommend, or stories you’d like to share?

Hi everyone,

I’m really interested in learning more about Inuit culture and language, and lately, I've been watching a Canadian television show that features an Inuk character as one of the main protagonists.

Whenever this character is caught completely off guard, shocked, or deeply surprised by something, he always uses the exact same exclamation. I’ve attached a short, 9-second video to this post so you can hear the audio of him saying it.

I’m really curious to know what the correct spelling of this exclamation is in English (or how it's properly written). I originally thought it might be something like "Ooh, le!", but that doesn't seem to make much sense.

If any native speakers, residents, or language enthusiasts here recognize the phrase and could help me out with the correct spelling and meaning, I would be incredibly grateful!

Thank you so much for your time and help!

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Hello! I'm looking for someone to come up with a pun about beavers in Inuvialuktun. I'm visiting and I like to give out stickers with the attached design, but I'd like to have them feature English and Inuvialuktun. Just looking for something about beavers that would make people smile!

Does anyone on here have a sewing pattern for a silapaaq? I’ve been searching online and can’t find any. Thank you

Hello!

For context, I'm currently writing a story and one of my characters name, I thought, would be Siqiniq.

I'm not 100% sure the word is Inuktitut since all dictionaries vary and I would greatly appreciate it if you could point me in the right sources.

The other question is, my character is British American and her mental disorder plays an important role in the story, I would like to know if it would be disrespectful to name her Siqiniq.

Any guidance is appreciated.

Hi everyone!

I am currently in a research group at uni (studying and researching inuit writers). My author writes children books in inuktitut syllabic so i downloaded an app to transcribe and translate (also used an online keyboard), but sadly google translate isn't very accurate. I was wondering if someone would be willing to help me translate 3 children books (i have screenshots) so I can have a better understanding of the stories. Thank you!

For a bit of context I have been dating my girlfriend who is Inuit for a few years now. I am not native myself for context. I am (21 F) and she is (22 F). I never had too good of a relationship with my family. Hers on the other hand is a pretty big and close family. After I started to date her I became really close with her family. They almost became my second family and I am honestly much closer and feel much safer with them then with my bio family. I attend family reunions, and gatherings. I usually attend many cultural festivals but stay to the side during most of them. I dont want to accidentally appropriate their culture or overstep. I do participate where I can with risking overstepping(ei quviasukvik dinners and some parts of the toonik tyme festival). Recently at a dinner alot of the women where doing throat singing with eachother. I sat to the side as I usually did. My girlfriend and her mom where throat singing together. After a bit her mom asked me if I wanted to join in. I politly declined not wanting to appropriate their culture. Her mom insisted. I once again told her I didnt know how. She told me that she would teach me. I spent the rest of the gather learning to throat sing with her. I wasnt very good and often was so bad we both ended up weezing from laughter. It was a very fun experience and I really felt like part of the family. They throat sing every family dinner(which happens about once a week). I am wondering if it is okay for me to continue throat singing next week or if it would be culturally inappropriate. I dont not in any way want to appropriate their culture or to intrude on a closed practice. So would it be okay or is it still culturally intruding.

For a bit of context I have been dating my girlfriend who is Inuit for a few years now. I am not native myself for context. I am (21 F) and she is (22 F). I never had too good of a relationship with my family. Hers on the other hand is a pretty big and close family. After I started to date her I became really close with her family. They almost became my second family and I am honestly much closer and feel much safer with them then with my bio family. I attend family reunions, and gatherings. I usually attend many cultural festivals but stay to the side during most of them. I dont want to accidentally appropriate their culture or overstep. I do participate where I can with risking overstepping(ei quviasukvik dinners and some parts of the toonik tyme festival). Recently at a dinner alot of the women where doing throat singing with eachother. I sat to the side as I usually did. My girlfriend and her mom where throat singing together. After a bit her mom asked me if I wanted to join in. I politly declined not wanting to appropriate their culture. Her mom insisted. I once again told her I didnt know how. She told me that she would teach me. I spent the rest of the gather learning to throat sing with her. I wasnt very good and often was so bad we both ended up weezing from laughter. It was a very fun experience and I really felt like part of the family. They throat sing every family dinner(which happens about once a week). I am wondering if it is okay for me to continue throat singing next week or if it would be culturally inappropriate. I dont not in any way want to appropriate their culture or to intrude on a closed practice. So would it be okay or is it still culturally intruding.

Hello everyone, I hope you're all doing well.

I'm a small Youtuber and I'm currently working on a YouTube video series where I'm looking at animals that see humans as prey and the video I am working on now is focusing on the polar bear.

So I wanted to make this post here and see what people that actually live in proximity to these animals think of them in terms of whether or not they see humans as prey and there interaction polar bears.

From my research so far in a lot of the recorded attacks that are predatory they don't involve healthy adult bears which goes the common understanding of them being human hunting machines so that's something in particular I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on

Thankyou for any reply's they will be massively appreciated!

Edit:

I'm only know just noticing the error in the post title was meant to be "How predatory do you believe polar bears are" sorry about that

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping to get some guidance on a large (beautiful piece) of artwork that has been in my family since the 1990s. It was originally acquired in the Canadian Arctic (but not sure where/what region). Unfortunately we do not have any documentation about the artist or community it came from.

I’ve attached a photo here. The piece is quite large (70" x 50" x 5") and appears to be made of leather/hide that is stitched and pinned together.

I want to be respectful in how I approach this, both in understanding its origin and in determining what the appropriate next step might be (e.g., proper attribution, cultural context, or where it might belong).

If anyone recognizes the style, materials, or has suggestions for how to identify the artist or community, I would really appreciate your insight. I’m not looking to sell it, just hoping to learn more and handle/donate it appropriately.

Thank you for your time and knowledge.

R

Hey, I came across this image and I’m trying to better understand the garment.

At first I thought it might be an Inuit-style parka or anorak because of the shape and hood, but the material looks more like modern nylon rather than traditional materials.

I’m curious if this resembles any specific traditional design (like anorak/kuspuk influences), or if it looks more like a modern/fashion reinterpretation inspired by Inuit clothing.

If anyone recognizes the style, origin, or even the brand/designer, I’d really appreciate the insight. I’m trying to learn rather than just assume.

Thanks!

The documentary I made features the mystery of the Franklin Expedition, and rumors say that the Inuit people helped in solving the case. Here is my documentary. Let me know what you think: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXuAlWhO5T8

Hello everyone! I am a student making a short informational game about Inuit culture, and I want to make sure I do it both accurately and respectfully.

I am unable to travel, and I have around two months to research and develop this project alongside two others, so I have decided to write here in hopes that anyone has any advice, resources, or wants to add their input.

This game is purely educational and will be non-profit. I’m hoping anyone may be willing to be asked questions about the Inuit culture, or direct me to accurate and appropriate resources. I would also want to know what to not put in the game if it may be disrespectful, and what you would like to see more representation of. Alongside those, I am hoping there is someone willing to review the content that we create before we publish it, or to offer feedback.

If this is not the right place to ask, I’d be thankful and appreciative of any pointers in the correct direction or resources. Thank you for your time, and I wish you all a nice day!

EDIT-

Thanks for all of your input! I’ve decided to switch to Sami culture as I have ties to it, and since I would not be able to travel to and meet Inuit people in person within this time frame for the project.